Bryce and his wife have two boys to keep them busy. In his spare time, he enjoys hunting and cheering on his boys in their various activities. Bryce is new to the competitive swim world but is delighted to have added the title of Swim Dad.
Leslie Cothern
My name is Leslie Cothern. I am married to Berry Cothern, and we have two grown children. Caitlin and Isabella.
I was born and raised in Jonesboro and graduated from UAMS in Little Rock with a bachelor’s in Cytotechnology. When Caitlin was 8 and Bella was 4, we met some new friends who had daughters around our daughters' ages, and they said we should come and swim with their team. We thought that could be fun, and here we are 18 years later, still involved in swimming. I began volunteering in various roles with the Jets, serving as President and long-time board member, and eventually got involved in USA Swimming as an official. I have been a Turn & Stroke official for 14 years and a Starter for 10 years. I am also now an NCAA Starter for Division 1, as my daughters swam in college (Caitlin swam for Lindenwood University, and Bella is currently swimming for the University of Arkansas).
My mission has always been to create and foster an equal and fair foundation for competitive swimming at all levels.
Will Green, the head coach of the SWAT team, was first introduced to swimming through group swim lessons at the YMCA. He began swimming for the Jonesboro Jets at the age of 11 and continued swimming for the club team. Before heading to the University of Arkansas, he was also a member of the Jonesboro High School swim team. In addition to being a swimmer, Green started his career in aquatics at a young age.
Green's first job was as a lifeguard at the YMCA, where he worked under the supervision of Bob Williams when he was 15. He also taught group swim lessons at the YMCA, a place where he had participated as a young child. Between his first and second years of college, when he returned home for the summer, the coach of a local club team contacted him to see if he was interested in assisting with coaching age-group swimming, which marked the beginning of his coaching career.
Green then became an adjunct professor at Arkansas State University, teaching all the aquatics courses and becoming the founding head coach of the A-State Swim Club. In 2014, Green founded his swim club, the Dart Frog Aquatic Team, and coached and operated it until it merged with SWAT in June 2022. Throughout his career, Green has had numerous athletes go on to swim successfully at the collegiate level. He has coached the top 10 swimmers in the country, as well as swimmers who have advanced to the future, junior nationals, and the U.S. Open. He was also the head coach of the Southwind Swim Conference for multiple years and will return in the years to come as one of the head coaches.
Green can be found on the pool deck daily, encouraging and supporting every swimmer in and out of the pool. The Boy Scouts of Crowley's Ridge District awarded Green the 2024 Heart of the Eagle Award to demonstrate his dedication and compassion towards the NEA community. This award is presented to an individual who exemplifies character, leadership, and integrity and shows compassion for their community. In 2024, coaches across the state voted Green as the 2024 ARSI Coach of the Year.
Coach Caitlin is an accomplished assistant coach and registered dietitian for our team. She has over 20 years of experience in competitive swimming, both as a swimmer and a coach. Caitlin competed at the collegiate level for Lindenwood University while also coaching for Parkway Swim Club in St Louis, MO. Later, she transferred to the University of Arkansas to continue her academic and coaching career for Northwest Arkansas Aquatics. After graduating, Caitlin completed the Dietetic Internship Program at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Then, she graduated with a Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition before returning to Jonesboro, AR.
Coach Caitlin is a Pediatric Dietitian at the Arkansas Children's Jonesboro Clinic. Her expertise extends beyond the clinic, where she works with young athletes and their families, crafting personalized nutrition plans to enhance growth and performance in and out of sports. In her free time, Caitlin is actively involved in her community, serving as a member of the Junior Auxiliary of Jonesboro and as a member of the Executive Board of Directors for Arkansas Swimming, Inc.
